Why more young US women appear ready to move abroad

December 2, 2025

A growing number of young American women are considering or actively relocating abroad, with a Gallup survey showing 40% of women aged 15-44 would move internationally if given the chance, compared to just 19% of young men in the same age group. This trend, which began over a decade ago during the Obama administration and intensified through subsequent presidencies, stems from a complex mix of political, economic, and social factors including concerns about reproductive rights, healthcare costs, gun violence, climate change, and declining trust in American institutions. Women report feeling pressured from multiple directions—caught between conservative expectations of traditional roles and progressive demands of modern working life—while also facing practical burdens like student debt and lack of work-life balance.

Who is affected

Young American women aged 15-44 (40% expressing desire to move abroad)
Young American men aged 15-44 (19% expressing desire to move abroad, showing significant gender gap)
Specific individuals: Aubrey and her wife (moving to Costa Rica), Kaitlin (moved to Portugal), Alyssa (moved to Uruguay with her children), and Marina (planning to move to Portugal with her boyfriend)
LGBTQ individuals concerned about rights in the United States
Latina women and immigration-affected communities
Mothers and women of childbearing age concerned about reproductive rights
Gen Z and Millennial demographics broadly
Women working in traditional 9-to-5 jobs with poor work-life balance

What action is being taken

Aubrey and her wife are preparing to leave for Costa Rica in January
Kaitlin is currently living in Lisbon, working remotely as a freelancer
Alyssa has already moved to Uruguay earlier in 2025 with her two children after selling everything
Marina is planning to leave for Portugal next May with her boyfriend
Young American women are reassessing where they see their futures and considering international relocation

Why it matters

This represents the largest gender gap in migration aspirations that Gallup has ever recorded, signaling a significant shift in how young American women view their prospects in the United States. The trend reflects declining trust in American institutions, with young women's confidence scores dropping 17 points since 2015—the sharpest decline of any demographic. The reasons encompass fundamental quality-of-life issues including healthcare access, reproductive rights, gun violence, economic pressures like student debt and housing costs, climate change concerns, and work-life balance. This gender divide in migration aspirations highlights deepening dissatisfaction among young women with the political, social, and economic conditions in America, suggesting potential long-term demographic and social consequences if the trend continues. According to Professor Brown, while similar pressures exist globally, they are "particularly visible and acute" in the United States, indicating systemic issues that distinguish America from other advanced economies.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC